"cockails" news and stories

In honor of the 2010 Olympic winter games, which kick off Feb. 12 in Vancouver, at least three hotel lounges in British Columbia, Canada, are mixing Olympics-themed cocktails for sports fans.

At Fairmont Chateau Whistler's Mallard Lounge, the Triple Lutz is practically all-Canadian. It contains Victoria gin, Ontario ice wine and Crystal Head vodka (from Newfoundland). The hotel also offers the Bobsleigh Slider smoothie for designated drivers, which mixes strawberries, bananas, yogurt and honey with wheatgrass and a dash of cinnamon. Doesn't that make you want to bundle up, head outdoors and zip down a snow-covered mountain in a bobsled?

Yew Restaurant + Bar – inside the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver – offers the Silver, a unique take on the Caesar (and inspired by the Calgary 1988 Winter Games). It's a spicy blend of buffalo jerky-infused vodka, house-made Clamato juice, chili peppers and horseradish.

In a vain attempt to keep the Friday cocktail imbibing relevant to the week's news here on Slashfood I offer -

Bird of Paradise

• 1 shot Gold Tequila
• 1 shot White crème de cacao
• ½ shot Amaretto Liqueur
• 2 shots single cream

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.

Sword of Damocles

• 3/4 shot melon liqueur
• 3/4 shot light rum
• ¼ shot fresh lime juice

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a shooter glass.

Scotch Bounty

• 1 shot Scotch whisky
• 1 shot white crème de cacao
• ½ shot coconut rum
• 2 shots orange juice
• 1/8 shot grenadine

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.